How serious is cyberbullying?
Listen to this short video from the parents of Ryan Halligan. Definition:"Cyberbullying" is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones.
What are some examples?
Sending insults, threats, or hateful comments through email, instant messages, texts, or posts on blogs or websites.
Stealing passwords and performing any of the above actions with an assumed identity.
Building hateful websites against a targeted person.
Be Aware. Know the signs.
Are you or is someone you know being cyberbullied? Has your child been acting peculiar lately?
A victim of cyberbullying often remains silent, hoping that the bully will go away, or that the situation will fix itself. Children often fear that the bully will retaliate and embarrass them further if they tell an adult. Be aware and check for these common signs of cyberbullying:
Emotional upset, especially after using the computer or cell phone. This can include sadness, anxiety, anger, depression, lack of sleep, or excessive sleep, and avoiding school, friends, or other social activities.
Decline in school grades.
Decline in use of technology, such as computers or cell phone.
All children can be cyberbullied, regardless of sex, race, or ethnicity. However, girls tend to be targeted more frequently. Children who use technology frequently, and those who give out personal information about their identity, thoughts, and ideas are at greater risk than children who do not have access to, or are not frequent users of digital technology.
Current Legislation
As we face new issues with cyberbullying in technology, a need for government intervention has become apparent. As of October 2009, two pieces of legislation are under consideration.Know what steps your government is taking to protect you.Contact your representatives about which bill you support. **Megan Meier Cyber Bullying Prevention Act**- Linda Sanchez (D-CA)This bill aims to criminally criminally punish cyberbullying. "Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both." **Adolescent Web Awareness Requires Education Act**(AWARE) - Debbie W. Schultz (D-FL)This bill provides funding for education about cyberbullying.This bill aims to dedicate $125 million in grants per year to develop Internet crime awareness and cybercrime prevention programs.
Two cyberbullying bills duke it outIn this article by Jacqui Cheng for ars technia, she explains the constitutional drawbacks of a bill that focuses on criminal punishment for speech issues. "Critics immediately zeroed in on the vagueness of the bill's language and noted that it could be easily abused to prosecute a wide array of free speech situations." Deciding what language is prosecutable and what is not becomes a slippery slope for our First Amendment right to free speech. The AWARE Act has been praised for its support of public education, as it provides funding for awareness and prevention programs.
Tips for Teachers
Educators play a role in preventing cyberbullying. Administrators and teachers facilitate and cultivate learning technological applications and safe computer usage. Classrooms and assemblies can include netiquette, school technology policy, Internet-related law, and general awareness about appropriate Internet use. Schools can also provide hotlines, web pages for advice and help, and school-wide campaigns against cyberbullies.
What steps can teachers take? 1. Survey - Collect surveys from your own school. Let the data drive your goals. Specific strategies work best.
2.School Policy -Every school should have a clear, concise policy on Internet and computer usage. The policy should be posted throughout the school and reviewed frequently. 3. Education - Assemblies and in-class discussions should address cyberbullying. Students should be made aware of cyberbullying, its consequences and its prevention, and resources to use if one is a witness or a target of cyberbullying. 4. Know the Law -Check state and federal laws. Use this knowledge as a guide for prevention and, when necessary, correction.
5. Filters/Blockers -All schools should have filters to block inappropriate content from students. Filters and blockers should be checked and serviced regularly.
6. School Spirit- Positive school spirit can help promote a healthy school environment which lessens the likelihood of victimization. It is essential to create a school atmosphere of mutual respect. 7.Awareness-Schools can promote community awareness by hosting seminars after school or during school for parents and community members, to educate the public on this new form of bullying.
Parents play a vital role. Research indicates that most teenagers do not talk to their parents about any forms of cyberbullying. This needs to change. Safe Internet usage, sites explored, and online "friends" are key discussion starters. Be involved with your child's online experience and stay active in your son's or daughter's online activities. 1. Online Protocol - Frequently review online etiquette. Never give out any personal information on the phone or Internet. Use extreme caution when talking to a "friend of a friend." Be careful what you write and what pictures you post. One moment of anger can turn into hours of embarrassment.
2.Location - Keep your child's computer in a user-friendly area that is not in a bedroom. Place the computer or laptop in an area frequented often by other family members, like the living room or kitchen. Children don't need "privacy" when they're online. 3. Internet Chat- Discuss what sites your child has been on and what person or persons he or she has been "met." This is not an invasion of privacy. You are the parent and you have the right and responsibility to keep abreast of your child's activities online and offline. Additionally, discuss what cyberbullying is and how important it is to immediately report any incident.
4. Signs - Watch for signs of listlessness, depression, mood swings, slipping grades, inattentiveness at school, or a new resistance to going to school. These signs could show that your child might be struggling with cyberbullying.
5. Filters/Blockers - Use filtering and blocking software, especially for younger children. This will help avoid viewing of inappropriate content. Search engines like Yahooligans! and Ask Jeeves are designed to help younger students navigate safely through the Internet highways.
6. Computer Check - Occasionally check your child's computer. Review your child's accounts, blogs, chat rooms, and all recently-visited web sites. Suggested rule: Your child should never erase browser history. This keeps the child accountable to the parent.
7. Contact- Your local school, police, and Internet Service Provider (ISP) should be contacted if there is a serious threat. Print and save any evidence of cyberbullying..
Cyberbullying
How serious is cyberbullying?
Listen to this short video from the parents of Ryan Halligan.
Definition:"Cyberbullying" is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones.
What are some examples?
Be Aware. Know the signs.
Are you or is someone you know being cyberbullied? Has your child been acting peculiar lately?
A victim of cyberbullying often remains silent, hoping that the bully will go away, or that the situation will fix itself. Children often fear that the bully will retaliate and embarrass them further if they tell an adult. Be aware and check for these common signs of cyberbullying:
All children can be cyberbullied, regardless of sex, race, or ethnicity. However, girls tend to be targeted more frequently. Children who use technology frequently, and those who give out personal information about their identity, thoughts, and ideas are at greater risk than children who do not have access to, or are not frequent users of digital technology.
Current Legislation
As we face new issues with cyberbullying in technology, a need for government intervention has become apparent. As of October 2009, two pieces of legislation are under consideration.Know what steps your government is taking to protect you. Contact your representatives about which bill you support.
**Megan Meier Cyber Bullying Prevention Act** - Linda Sanchez (D-CA) This bill aims to criminally criminally punish cyberbullying.
"Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."
**Adolescent Web Awareness Requires Education Act** (AWARE) - Debbie W. Schultz (D-FL)This bill provides funding for education about cyberbullying. This bill aims to dedicate $125 million in grants per year to develop Internet crime awareness and cybercrime prevention programs.
Two cyberbullying bills duke it outIn this article by Jacqui Cheng for ars technia, she explains the constitutional drawbacks of a bill that focuses on criminal punishment for speech issues. "Critics immediately zeroed in on the vagueness of the bill's language and noted that it could be easily abused to prosecute a wide array of free speech situations." Deciding what language is prosecutable and what is not becomes a slippery slope for our First Amendment right to free speech. The AWARE Act has been praised for its support of public education, as it provides funding for awareness and prevention programs.
Tips for Teachers
Educators play a role in preventing cyberbullying. Administrators and teachers facilitate and cultivate learning technological applications and safe computer usage. Classrooms and assemblies can include netiquette, school technology policy, Internet-related law, and general awareness about appropriate Internet use. Schools can also provide hotlines, web pages for advice and help, and school-wide campaigns against cyberbullies.
What steps can teachers take?
1. Survey - Collect surveys from your own school. Let the data drive your goals. Specific strategies work best.
2. School Policy - Every school should have a clear, concise policy on Internet and computer usage. The policy should be posted throughout the school and reviewed frequently.
3. Education - Assemblies and in-class discussions should address cyberbullying. Students should be made aware of cyberbullying, its consequences and its prevention, and resources to use if one is a witness or a target of cyberbullying.
4. Know the Law - Check state and federal laws. Use this knowledge as a guide for prevention and, when necessary, correction.
5. Filters/Blockers - All schools should have filters to block inappropriate content from students. Filters and blockers should be checked and serviced regularly.
6. School Spirit - Positive school spirit can help promote a healthy school environment which lessens the likelihood of victimization. It is essential to create a school atmosphere of mutual respect.
7. Awareness - Schools can promote community awareness by hosting seminars after school or during school for parents and community members, to educate the public on this new form of bullying.
Some helpful websites are listed here.
Additional teacher materials are available on our RESOURCES page..
Cyberbullying
Internet 101
Wired Safety
I Safe
Tips for Parents
Parents play a vital role. Research indicates that most teenagers do not talk to their parents about any forms of cyberbullying. This needs to change. Safe Internet usage, sites explored, and online "friends" are key discussion starters. Be involved with your child's online experience and stay active in your son's or daughter's online activities.
1. Online Protocol - Frequently review online etiquette. Never give out any personal information on the phone or Internet. Use extreme caution when talking to a "friend of a friend." Be careful what you write and what pictures you post. One moment of anger can turn into hours of embarrassment.
2. Location - Keep your child's computer in a user-friendly area that is not in a bedroom. Place the computer or laptop in an area frequented often by other family members, like the living room or kitchen. Children don't need "privacy" when they're online.
3. Internet Chat - Discuss what sites your child has been on and what person or persons he or she has been "met." This is not an invasion of privacy. You are the parent and you have the right and responsibility to keep abreast of your child's activities online and offline. Additionally, discuss what cyberbullying is and how important it is to immediately report any incident.
4. Signs - Watch for signs of listlessness, depression, mood swings, slipping grades, inattentiveness at school, or a new resistance to going to school. These signs could show that your child might be struggling with cyberbullying.
5. Filters/Blockers - Use filtering and blocking software, especially for younger children. This will help avoid viewing of inappropriate content. Search engines like Yahooligans! and Ask Jeeves are designed to help younger students navigate safely through the Internet highways.
6. Computer Check - Occasionally check your child's computer. Review your child's accounts, blogs, chat rooms, and all recently-visited web sites. Suggested rule: Your child should never erase browser history. This keeps the child accountable to the parent.
7. Contact - Your local school, police, and Internet Service Provider (ISP) should be contacted if there is a serious threat. Print and save any evidence of cyberbullying. .
Here are a few helpful websites.
Additional parent materials can be found at our RESOURCES page.
Cyberbullying
Internet 101
Wired Safety
Surf Swell Island
At our Online Behavior Forum, you can share your own experiences or pose questions for others to consider.